The Union Ministry of Railways is to approach the Union Government with a
proposal to set up a 'socio-economic railway lines fund' to finance its network
expansion projects.
Once approved, the proceeds of the fund are likely to be spent towards
developing around 97 network expansion projects over the next eight years.
The ministry facing a severe resource crunch in taking up and completing
projects have a throw-forward (balance funds required to complete the earmarked
projects) of Rs 1,00,000 crore to lay 286 new lines and execute gauge conversion
and doubling projects.